Controversial defence law to exempt fundamental research

Change to bill hailed as a win by Australian Academy of Science

Changes to Australia’s controversial Defence Trade Controls Amendment bill mean the legislation strikes “a better balance” in the face of fears that researchers would be jailed, critics have said.

A report on the bill from the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, due by the end of April, was released early on 15 March. The bill was passed on 20 March.